30 



A DIARY OF THE 



was felt by the crew lest they might become 

 victims to treachery. This immediately reached 

 the captain's ear, who, without loss of time, 

 summoned the men and officers in camp around 

 him, explained to them the better motives of the 

 Indians, yet pointing out the propriety of ob- 

 serving distance with them, and that his orders 

 would exclude them from communication with 

 our camp ; that his determination was to assume 

 the best possible state of defence, and to main- 

 tain our position, in the event of an attack, until 

 information might arrive from the consul at 

 Concepgion, to govern our movements ; and 

 that, as British seamen, he felt confident they 

 would show, by obedience and good conduct, 

 their title to that character. This short and 

 well-timed address dissipated their misgivings, 

 and forcibly exemplified the general confidence 

 which the mild exercise of authority is calcu- 

 lated to inspire. The men were satisfied, re- 

 turned cheerfully to their tents, and their hard- 

 ships and privations in camp, although extended 

 to a period of seven weeks, never afterwards ex- 

 cited a murmur. The constant and laborious 

 operation of landing the stores and provisions, 

 the men being constantly wet through, from 



